Intermittent fecal/sulfur breath odor

Posted by pbleonar @pbleonar, Jun 8, 2017

After scouring the web, I'm certain I'm not the only person with this problem, and not the only person who's been told they were imagining it. Anyway, the issue is I have intermittent odors when I talk (yes, I've been to the dentist 10+ times-- all say my oral hygiene is on point and xrays and inspections showed nothing). The only time it's practically non-existent is when I eat an unhealthily low-carb diet. Like others online, I've had CT scans, Barium swallows, endosocopy/colonoscopy, screening for parasites (getting one more from an IDS before crossing that off my list). All showed up negative. I tested positive for SIBO, but after researching that for the past 3 years, I'm certain SIBO is more of a symptom than a primary causal problem. Furthermore, even when I treated SIBO with heavy antibiotics, it did absolutely nothing for my breath-- and yes I was cleared of SIBO after a couple rounds of work. yet, the moment I eat carbs, I still get a "did someone just s*it themselves?" comment.

I guess what I'm getting at is I'm tired of doctors just saying it's IBS and SIBO and then proceeding to do zero investigating afterwards. I want to get down to the root cause of this, but most doctors are either too apathetic or too incompetent to do anything. Are there any researchers who specialize in studying and diagnosing hard to find problems in the GI tract? Between the 3 GI docs, 2 ENTs, 2 NDs and 1 IDS, I just can't take normal doctors anymore. I want my life back and I want a specific root cause so I can work on progressing from there.

Further notes: Diarrhea actually cleared up when I ate junk food and I had zero bloating, albeit the odor remained.

Xifaxan and neomycin did nothing for the odor, nor did the elemental diet. I actually think the elemental diet made the smell as bad or
worse than before.

*******Nitazoxanide********** worked wonders for the month I was on it. Solid stools even with foods that normally cause my ibs to flare up.
It's exactly the reason I felt there was more going on to everything than just SIBO and IBS.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

mark8646 | @mark8646 | Jun 18, 2023

In reply to @cancurethis12 "What do you eat on yohr Keto diet that kills symptoms?" + (show)

So basically I keep my carbs at around 50 or less per day. A lot eggs, healthy lean means, wild caught fish, salads, and low fiber/ carb fruits and veggies. Which as we know doesn't give you a ton to choose from. But recently I've been enlightened to the fact them when you have something like I do, it's a very fluid and multifactoral problem. Essentially I have intestinal permeability that ebbs and flows based on many factors. A compromised lymphatic system, previous heavy drug use when I was young that definitely damaged my mucosa. ECT. I've learned how to manage it but really it boils down to strengthening that mucosa and gut barrier best I can. Which means extended periods of eating very very clean. When I do that it's good and I have way more wiggle room. But once it's inflamed then it takes months to get symptoms under control because my motility slows to a hault and that's when I get the over growth. Let me know if you have other questions. I've dealt with this a long time and have a pretty good understanding of how it effects me. Maybe I can help someone else.

cancurethis12 | @cancurethis12 | Jun 18, 2023

In reply to @mark8646 "So basically I keep my carbs at around 50 or less per day. A lot eggs,..." + (show)

Thank you that helped a lot, ha e you ever been tested for Sibo ? I have that confirmed and so do a lot of other with this problem

mark8646 | @mark8646 | Jun 19, 2023

In reply to @cancurethis12 "Thank you that helped a lot, ha e you ever been tested for Sibo ? I..." + (show)

I have not. Mainly cause I think sibo is a result of the problem not the cause. It's a byproduct of slow motility.

cancurethis12 | @cancurethis12 | Jun 19, 2023

In reply to @mark8646 "I have not. Mainly cause I think sibo is a result of the problem not the..." + (show)

Yeah that makes a lot of sense, I have a theory that long term h pylori infection due to antibiotics is the cause of this problem, especially since h pylori causes low stomach acid and low stomach acid is a cause of Sibo, what do you think about that? Thanks for your replies by the way

mark8646 | @mark8646 | Jun 19, 2023

In reply to @cancurethis12 "Yeah that makes a lot of sense, I have a theory that long term h pylori..." + (show)

I think you're on to something. How's your motility? Do you have constipation or diarrhea? When the system gets bogged down these problems fester.

mark8646 | @mark8646 | Jun 19, 2023

In reply to @cancurethis12 "Yeah that makes a lot of sense, I have a theory that long term h pylori..." + (show)

I also am not as knowledgeable about h pylori but I understand these things aren't simple 1 factor problems.

cancurethis12 | @cancurethis12 | Jun 19, 2023

In reply to @mark8646 "I think you're on to something. How's your motility? Do you have constipation or diarrhea? When..." + (show)

My motility is very strange, it seems like I don’t digest food properly at all and I’m either constipated or having diaorrehea

irr4et | @irr4et | Jun 20, 2023

What do u guys do or take to get your motility going again?

meryc89 | @meryc89 | Jun 23, 2023

In reply to @jojododo "I double/triple-checked OP's post to make sure I hadn't posted it myself and forgotten about it...." + (show)

@jojododo

I double/triple-checked OP's post to make sure I hadn't posted it myself and forgotten about it. The OP's post describes my symptoms and frustration with this problem to a T. I've been dealing with this mystery condition for 14 years. I have been to ENTs, dentists, and GI doctors and nothing has ever come close to a diagnosis, much less a cure. When I told a GI doctor, with much humiliation, about this problem, she dismissed me with, "that's not important to me." Fine, but it's sure as hell important to me!

With respect to the replies here, one of the most frustrating part is the most common responses revolving around halitosis. But it's not halitosis as we know it. It's not eating a garlic burger or neglecting dental hygiene. Of course, I have halitosis when I don't brush my teeth or eating 10 garlic pieces. No, what is perplexing is that I will be talking to someone normally and for long periods, everything is fine and then all of the sudden, the person will jerk back. And I know it's a fart breath has wafted out. That's as plainly as I can describe it. Sometimes I can smell it and sometimes I can't. When I do, I can't believe how foul it is. And it happens when I'm not talking or doing anything so that's why I don't think it's oral and that it is further down. As the OP posted, it is intermittent fecal/sulfur breath and it pops up randomly. It has destroyed my self esteem and greatly affected my social life and career. It's horrible to hear people ask if someone shat. The most recent example was a guy saying, "it smells like gas here, I'm moving away" while I was in a group conversation.

Done all the GI tests, taken all the acid reflux meds, done all the ENT sprays, tried every mineral and supplement, acupuncture, chinese medicine, etc. Everything under the sun. Everything that has listed here in the replies and yet, this problem persists. It's been 14 years and I miss that outgoing, intrepid person I used to be. Now I stay at a job I hate mainly because I can work from home. I want to look for a new job but dread going out there for interviews and having this issue pop up. It's intermittent and it happens throughout everyday.

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I have the same problem and I don’t know what to do. Now, life is a hell